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Alameda School (Portland, Oregon)
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| Object Name | Alameda School (Portland, Oregon)
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| View | Oregon Historic Site Form. Prepared by Iris Eschen. |
| Alternate Name | Alameda Elementary School (Portland, Oregon)
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| Creator/Role | George Howell Jones (architect, 1887-1950)
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| Creator | Jones, George H.
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| Date | 1922
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| Decade | 1920-1929
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| City | Portland
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| County | Multnomah
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| State/Province | Oregon
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| Country | United States
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| Site Detail | 2732 NE Fremont Street |
| Cataloger | Edward H. Teague |
| Object Type | architecture
built works
views (visual works)
exterior views
schools (buildings)
public schools (buildings)
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| Notes | Oregon Historic Site Form Alameda School 2732 Fremont St Portland, Multnomah County block nbr: lot nbr: tax lot nbr: township: range: section: 1/ 4: LOCATION AND PROPERTY NAME elig. evaluation: eligible/ contributing primary orig use: School secondary orig use: primary style: Colonial Revival secondary style: primary siding: Horizontal Board secondary siding: Wood: Other/ Undefined plan type: School ( General) Portland historic name: Alameda School primary constr date: 1922 secondary date: 1925 height (# stories): 2 total # ineligible resources: 0 ( optional-- use for major addns) current/ other names: Alameda Elementary School ( c.) ( c.) orig use comments: prim style comments: sec style comments: location descr: assoc addresses: vcnty address: ( remote sites) siding comments: PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS farmstead/ cluster name: zip: total # eligible resources: 3 apprx. addrs resource type: Building NR status: RLS survey date: 7/ 2/ 2009 external site #: 230 ( ID# used in city/ agency database) survey project name or other grouping name comments/ notes: The building has an HRI Rank II. ILS survey date: 7/ 2/ 2009 Gen File date: SHPO INFO FOR THIS PROPERTY NR date listed: GROUPINGS / ASSOCIATIONS Optional Information 2732 NE Fremont St Multnomah County ( former addresses, intersections, etc.) architect: Jones, George builder: NR date listed: ( indiv listed only; see Grouping for hist dist) 106 Project( s) PPS Historic Building Assessment 2009 Survey & Inventory Project North elevation Printed on: 10/ 14/ 2009 Page 1 of 4 Oregon Historic Site Form Alameda School 2732 Fremont St Portland, Multnomah County ARCHITECTURAL / PROPERTY DESCRIPTION ( Include expanded description of the building/ property, setting, significant landscape features, outbuildings, and alterations) HISTORY ( Chronological, descriptive history of the property from its construction through at least the historic period [ preferably to the present]) Description Summary Situated between the Irvington and Alameda neighborhoods of northeast Portland, the Alameda Elementary School campus consists of a 1922 U-shaped building ( 230A, B, and C) and two 1918 portable buildings ( 230P1 and P2). The primary Colonial Revival building is a one- story wood structure ornamented by a pediment topped portico and gabled roofs with rounded dormers. Double hung wood frame and Palladian style windows provide the fenestration. Doors on the east and west ( side) elevations are flanked by fanlights and exhibit plain wood pilasters. Double loaded corridors provide access to the administrative offices located along the north wing and classrooms located along the east and west wings of the building. Two classroom additions ( 230B and C) were made to the original building in 1954 and 1992. Architectural Description The Alameda Elementary School is situated between the Irvington and Alameda neighborhoods of northeast Portland at 2732 NE Fremont Street. The neighborhood consists of a mixture of single family residences built primarily between 1920 and 1950 ( Sanborn Maps 1924- 1928, Sanborn Map updated to 1950). The primary entrance to the facility is from NE Fremont Street. Play areas and open space occupy the southern end of the campus and are sited to the north of NE Klickitat Street. To the south of the main facility are two 1918 portable buildings, which are clad in T- 111, capped by gable roofs, and feature double hung wood frame windows. The primary 1922 Colonial Revival school building consists of a U- shaped plan with an auditorium that is sited between the wings that form the ‘ U' shape. Rectangular classroom, administrative office, and recreation spaces are located along the U- shaped corridor. Entry to the building is marked by a pedimented portico with tympanum. The primary cladding material is horizontal beveled siding. The primary entrance to the main building is marked by a pedimented portico with a tympanum decorated by a shield and garland motif. The basic unit of fenestration for the main building consists of double hung windows, Palladian windows ( particularly on the gable end sections), and oval louvered vents. Doors on the east and west ( side) elevations are marked by more modestly decorated porticos with wood pilasters and fanlights. The primary building is capped by low gable roofs with rounded dormers. Additions to the south end of the east arm ( 1992) and west arm ( 1954) are capped by flat and hip roofs. The buildings that comprise the campus largely rest on poured concrete foundations. The principal entry opens into a lobby illuminated by windows that flank the entry door. The auditorium, located across from the main entrance, is marked by inlaid wood marquetry that composed by Works Progress Administration ( WPA) artists. The double loaded corridors are lined with a wood picture molding. Tubular fluorescent light fixtures are suspended from the acoustic tile clad ceiling. All of the wings within the primary building feature skylights and the east and west wings feature bands of windows along the interior/ classroom walls. Wood doors with center lights provide access to the classrooms. Flooring consists of linoleum tiles and carpeting. The classrooms feature a rectangular plan often with a recessed area that features a sink, coat closet, work counter, and cupboards. Classroom windows line the exterior walls and retain their wood surrounds. The building is heated by boilers that are located beneath the auditorium. Wall heaters provide heat for the classrooms and other spaces. Alterations/ Integrity Within four years of the construction of the primary building, an auditorium and classroom wings located off the south end of the east and west sides of the building were added to the school. Also in 1925, the sheltered play courts, located along the interior elevations of east and west wings, were enclosed to form a gym and additional classroom space. Other additions include the construction of a kitchen in 1951, classroom addition ( 230B) off the south end of the west wing in 1954, and more classrooms ( 230C) off the south end of the east elevation in 1992. Interior alterations include the replacement of floor tiles ( 1955, 1984 and 1985) and tiles by carpeting ( 1973), some of the interior doors, and lighting fixtures. Other alterations include the remodeling of the auditorium ( 1951), bathrooms ( 1955), and classroom 114 and the faculty lunch room into a library ( 2002). Alameda Elementary School retains a moderate degree of integrity. The 1954 and 1992 additions are not located along the primary elevations of the building and contribute to the retention of the U- shaped plan. The building retains its original wood cladding, overall pattern of windows, colonial revival details, and form. The configuration of the corridors, primary spaces, and classroom design are also intact. Although the flooring, ceiling tiles and lighting have been changed, other interior finishes including the wood molding, classroom doors, and classroom built- ins are intact. Alterations to the 1918 portable buildings include new siding, roofing material, furniture, lighting fixtures, ceiling tile, and the replacement of asphalt floor tiles with carpet. While alterations have been made to some of the interior and exterior materials, the double hung wood frame windows and the form and configuration of these buildings are intact. The portable buildings contribute to the significance of the site. Printed on: 10/ 14/ 2009 Page 2 of 4 Oregon Historic Site Form Alameda School 2732 Fremont St Portland, Multnomah County RESEARCH INFORMATION Title Records Sanborn Maps Obituaries City Directories Census Records Biographical Sources Newspapers Building Permits Property Tax Records SHPO Files State Archives State Library Local Histories Interviews Historic Photographs Local Library: Multnomah County Library University Library: Portland State University Historical Society: Oregon Historical Society Other Repository: PPS Archives Bibliography: Betelle, James O. " Architectural Styles as Applied to School Buildings." American School Board Journal. Vol. 58 ( April 1919). Cremin, Lawrence. The Transformation of the School: Progressivism in American Education, 1876- 1957. New York: A. Knopt, 1961. Cubberley, Ellwood Patterson. The Portland Survey: A Textbook on City School Administration Based on a Concrete Study. Yonkers-on- Hudson, NY: World Book Co., 1915. Oregonian. " Mayor Lane and the Schools." 10- 31- 1906. Oregonian, " Alameda School Alumni Celebrate 60th Anniversary" 5- 10- 1981. ( Check all of the basic sources consulted and cite specific important sources) Statement of Significance Built in 1922, Alameda Elementary School was constructed during a period of progressive era growth that responded to changing city demographics and ideas concerning safety, sanitation, and child centered instruction ( Rippa, 1997: passim; Cremin 1961: 135- 153; Cubberley 1915: 283- 290). By 1905, it became increasingly clear that dramatic increases in school- age children outstripped the district's existing classroom capacity and existing schools could not effectively serve areas of the city where new residential development was occurring ( Cubberley 1915: 283- 285, 288- 290). In 1915, residents of northeast Portland purchased land for the constructing of the Alameda Elementary School at NE 25th and Fremont, seven months later the school was relocated to its current site at NE 27th Avenue and Fremont ( The Oregonian, " Alameda School Alumni Celebrate 60th Anniversary" May 10, 1981). While the current building was being constructed, school children were taught in simple rectangular buildings or " portable buildings." Two of these buildings remain on the site. Portland Public Schools ( PPS) District Architect, George Jones, designed the Alameda School. Jones was one of the most influential school district architects. Jones along with Floyd Naramore designed a large majority of the elementary, intermediate, as well as high schools between 1908 and 1932. Beginning in 1908, with the emergence of the Bureau of Properties, PPS district architects took on a more formalized role in the design and maintenance of school facilities. The Bureau of Properties was created by PPS to centralize management of the district's properties ( Powers and Corning 1937: 182). For Alameda Elementary School, Jones adopted the building program and principles that dominated the discourse for school design during the first half of the twentieth century. After several well- publicized school fires in U. S. cities, calls for a more fundamental change in the building construction began as early as 1906 ( Oregonian, 10- 31- 1906). Many of Portland's new fire proof buildings were constructed of brick and concrete; however, Alameda Elementary School, constructed of wood and metal, deviated from this shift in materials. The school typifies the single- story U- shaped school plans that were seen as an exemplar of fireproof construction and rapid building egress ( The Evening Telegram, 11- 03- 1915). These new buildings were often constructed in units ( sometimes referred to as extensible schools) and contained more differentiated and increasingly specialized classroom spaces ( Powers and Corning 1937: 182). By 1925, Alameda Elementary School included an auditorium, cafeteria, library, nature study room, home economics room and gymnasium ( The Oregonian, " Alameda School Alumni Celebrate 60th Anniversary" May 10, 1981). Alameda Elementary School was constructed in the Colonial Revival style that was popular for educational buildings during the first half of the twentieth- century. The architectural details of Portland schools constructed during this period encompass the Classical Revival, Colonial Revival, and Collegiate Gothic styles; architectural revivals that were viewed as inspirational and appropriate for educational settings ( Betelle 1919: 28; Sibley 1923: 66; Patton 1967: 1- 8). Between the onset of the Great Depression in 1929 and World War II in 1941, few schools were constructed in Portland; however, several schools, including Alameda Elementary, were recipients of Works Progress Administration ( WPA) artwork. Alameda Elementary School's murals, consisting of wood marquetry, depict Indians and Euro American fur trappers and settlers that symbolize the founding of Oregon. Alameda Elementary School retains good integrity ( of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association) with its plan and exterior and interior finishes. The 1922 Colonial Revival school and 1918 ancillary buildings are recommended as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places ( NRHP) for their association with progressive era public school construction in Portland ( Criterion A). The school complex is a strong example of the principles that characterized the design of schools during this era; therefore, it is eligible for listing in the NRHP under Criterion A. The Alameda School does not appear to be associated with a significant person or persons and therefore does not merit listing under Criterion B. Alameda Elementary School is a good example of the single- story Colonial Revival school buildings that were constructed during the early- twentieth century in Portland in response to prevailing ideas concerning the appropriateness of the style within an educational context and out of concerns for fire safety. It embodies the distinctive characteristics the one story elementary school building type and is therefore eligible for listing in the NRHA under Criterion C. Printed on: 10/ 14/ 2009 Page 3 of 4 Oregon Historic Site Form Alameda School 2732 Fremont St Portland, Multnomah County Patton, Glenn. " American Collegiate Gothic: A Phase of University Architectural Development." Journal of Higher Education. Vol. 38, No. 1 ( January, 1967). Portland Public Schools. School Chronology Binder. PPS Archives, Portland, Oregon. _______. Alameda Elementary School. Facility Profile. Powers, Alfred and Howard McKinley Corning, History of Education in Portland. [ Portland]: Work Projects Administration, 1937. Rippa, Alexander. Education in a Free Society: An American History. New York: Longman, 1997. Sanborn Map Company 1924- 1928, 1908- Dec. 1950 Sanborn Maps, Multnomah County Public Library, Portland, Oregon. Available at: https:// catalog. multcolib. org/ validate? url= http% 3A% 2F% 2F0- sanborn. umi. com. catalog. multcolib. org% 3A80% 2F. Accessed June 16, 2009. Sibley, Ernest. " Why I Prefer the Colonial Style." School Board Journal: Vol. 66 ( January 1923). Printed on: 10/ 14/ 2009 Page 4 of 4 Main building ( 230A), north ( front) elevation looking southwest. Main building ( 230A), west ( side) elevation looking southward. Main building ( 230A) and 1954 Addition ( 230B), west ( side) elevation looking southward. From left: 1954 Addition ( 230B), 1918 Portable Classrooms ( 230P2), Main building Auditorium ( 230A), and 1918 Portable Classroom ( 230P1), looking northward. 1992 Addition ( 230C), south and east elevations looking northwest. Alameda School Exterior Photos ENTRIX, 2009 Main Building ( 230A), detail of entrance space, looking north. Main Building ( 230A), detail of mural at entrance to auditorium, looking south. Main Building ( 230A), hallway with skylights and side door, looking west. Main Building ( 230A), auditorium, looking south. Alameda School Interior Photos ENTRIX, 2009 Main Building ( 230A), gymnasium, looking northwest. Alameda School Interior Photos ENTRIX, 2009 1924- 1928 Sanborn Fire Insurance Company Map, Portland, Oregon, Map 613. Arrow points to Alameda Public School. Updated to 1950, Sanborn Fire Insurance Company Map, Portland, Oregon, Map 157. Arrow points to Alameda Public School. Note the extensive expansion the school witnessed between the 1920s and 1950. Alameda School 2732 NE Fremont St, Portland OR, 97212 Building Periods 1. Portables ( 230P), 1918 2. Main Building ( 230A), 1921 2. 2nd Unit Addition ( 230A), 1925 3. Classroom Add. ( 230B), 1934 4. Classroom Add. ( 230C), 1992 NE Klickitat St NE Fremont St Aerial photo © 2009 Metro, Portland OR Imagery Date: July 12, 2007 Undated photo of Alameda School, looking southeast NE 27th Ave View Site in Google Maps Historical Significance and Building Integrity Contrib: High Significance Contrib: Moderate Signif. Non- Contributing 0' 50' 100' 200' N sandy Blvd Lombard st powell Blvd 82nd ave MLK jr b lvd 2 3 4 5 1 |
| Metadata Notes | Description of this work is based initially on documentation supplied by the image provider. It is often the case with gift slides that very little information is provided. Review and updating of descriptive information by the collection cataloger is ongoing. |
| Digital Collection | Building Oregon: Architecture of Oregon & the Pacific Northwest
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| Source Collection | University of Oregon Libraries |
| Publisher | University of Oregon Libraries |
| File Name | OR_Multnomah_Portland_ |
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